November 21, 2014 at 1:51 p.m.
Baby surprises mother on her birthday
Baby surprises mother on her birthday
By Kayla Thomason-
Kirkham went into labor at midnight - a month before her daughter was due.
Needless to say the baby's early arrival was a complete surprise to both mother and father.
"I was very shocked [that my daughter was going to be born on my wife's birthday]," said Angela's husband, Mike Kirkham. "I would never guessed that she would've showed up on my wife's birthday, since (Angela's) birthday was a month (before) Blaine's due date."
"We didn't even have a hospital bag packed," Angela added. "We thought we had time. We still had some stuff to get done but luckily most of the stuff, like her room, we had done and the important stuff, it was just the little things."
Angela was supported in the delivery room by her husband, mother and mother-in-law.
At 3:54 p.m. she welcomed her baby girl into the world. Blaine Allison Kirkham weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.
"I think it's pretty cool [to share my birthday with my daughter], like you definitely could not plan that if you tried," the new mother said. "[This is] nothing that we ever expected."
Kirkham thinks Blaine is the best birthday present and the rest of the family is equally thrilled with the new addition, she said.
"My parents are very, very excited," she said.
This is her mother-in-law's third grandchild and she has been in the delivery room for each baby's birth. Blaine is the first grandchild for Angela's mother, Veronika Baron.
"(It) couldn't have been more special!" Baron said. "And the baby came naturally so it was meant to be."
"It must be an awesome feeling to share the same birthday as your daughter and Angela and I are not only mother and daughter, but best friends as well," she added. "Now we share another bond of giving birth on the same day 27 years apart!"
The Kirkhams took their time deciding between the four names they had been considering. By 2:30 a.m. the day after her birth, the proud parents chose to name their little girl Blaine Allison.
"We both liked the name Allison and we couldn't decide if we wanted that as her first name or middle name," Angela said. "My husband thought of the name Blaine and just kind of liked how it went with the name Allison."
"I thought of the name Bane from the movie "The Dark Knight Rises" [directed by Christopher Nolan] and Blaine is the 'girl' version," Mike said. "We also liked the name Blair but decided on Blaine."
As every parent does, the Kirkhams have been gazing at the new member of the family and trying to decide who she most resembles.
"[Blaine and I] have the same right ear," Angela said. "I have a little notch in the top of my ear and so does she, same ear and everything, same spot. And she has a dimple in her left cheek like her dad."
Mike Kirkham noticed that Blaine has his nose and eyes.
"There is a baby picture of me and we look exactly the same," he said.
Since she was born a month early, Blaine had to stay at the hospital for five days, but waiting for her at home was a purple nursery, decorated with a Winnie the Pooh motif, and a black lab named Holley.
At first Holley was a little jealous about having to share attention but Angela said the dog has adjusted and become a doting companion who checks up on Blaine when she gets fussy.
Blaine's grandparents visit fairly regularly to spend time with the new addition as well.
Both sets of grandparents live in or near Rhinelander.
"We have a lot of people to rely on if we need anything and stuff, it's pretty nice," Angela said, adding that Blaine seems to be pretty easy-going.
"She's got a pretty good personality so far," she said.
Blaine's baby book is already being filled with photographs and their hospital wristbands.
Angela Kirkham wonders how many people get to share a birthday with their child.
"I guess it makes it easier on my husband now, he only has one day to remember [for his wife and daughter's birthday]," she said.
"I think [that my wife and daughter sharing a birthday] is very unique and special," Mike said. "This way I only have to buy one cake and it makes it easier to remember both their birthdays."
He is looking forward to teaching Blaine how to ride a four-wheeler and snowmobile as well as "helping prepare for her future and support her with whatever she decides to do in life."
Angela is looking forward to her daughter's first steps and watching her race her dad on the four-wheeler and snowmobile.
"The highlight of my day is coming home to my three girls: my wife, daughter and dog, Holley," Mike added.
The Kirkhams have been married since August of 2013 but have been together for 10 years. They are high school sweethearts.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.